Sansho, AKA Japanese pepper, is widely grown and consumed in Asia as a spice. Despite the name, it is not related to black pepper or to chili peppers. It is popular in the cuisine of China, Tibet, Nepal , Korea and Japan, among others. Sansho has a unique aroma and flavor that is not hot or pungent like black or white pepper, or chili peppers, but has slight lemony overtones and creates a tingly numbness in the mouth. In Japan, its dried and powdered leaves are used to make noodle dishes and soups mildly hot and fragrant. The whole fresh leaves are used to flavor vegetables, especially bamboo shoots, and to decorate soups.

The Sansho plant itself, a distant cousin to citrus, is frost hardy and easy to grow. It is an interesting looking, evergreen shrub topping out at about 6 tall and 4 feet wide. It grows well in containers and can be used as the tall element of a mixed herb garden. Try it in combination with cilantro (Chinese parsley), Chinese flat chives, and shiso for an Asian-flavor garden. Sansho plants can be either male or female. Our plants are all male, for leaf harvest ONLY. To get peppercorns you need a male and a female and at this time we are not able to get any female plants.

For the Landscape Challenged:
The Plant Doctor is In!

Yamagami's Nursery is pleased to announce our Plant Doctor Service. Our Plant Doctor makes housecalls to help you solve your garden problems on site. Alan Tagami, our Plant Dr., is available to help you figure out what is growing wrong in your garden. There is a fee of $100 per hour, $50 of which is rebated back as credit on purchases*. When you are mystified by plant problems, who're you gonna call? Plant Doctor! Yamagami's and the Plant Doctor are here to help you succeed…the first time! Call Alan at (408) 252-3347 to schedule an appointment.

Travel time is billed according to zip code. There is no travel time fee for the following six zip codes: 95014, 95030, 95070, 95117, 95129, and 95129. The travel fee for other local zip codes matches the Delivery Charge Chart HERE. Travel time fees are not rebated.

For the Landscape Challenged:
Small Space Garden Consultations are Back!

Alan Tagami is resuming his Landscape Consultation services for small space (under 1500 sq ft.) gardens. Alan can suggest plants to help you refresh a tired landscape or to start a new one. This service is for small areas, either a front yard or part of a backyard in need of practical and aesthetic guidance. Alan can help you create an appealing and attractive water-wise garden. The fee for this service is $400, $200 of which is returned as credit on merchandise. Call Alan at (408) 252-3347 to schedule an appointment..

Did you know that we offer a FREE Lawn care Reminder Service?

Throughout the year we can e-mail you reminders when it is time to fertilize, what to use and when to treat for different lawn problems, like grubs. Timing is everything when it comes to treatment, so let us help you succeed in maintaining a healthy, problem free lawn. Whenever possible we include info for the organic gardener too. Click here to sign-up.

We absolutely do not share this information with anyone else!